Start Today

Background and Commentary

The piece is from the perspective of a vulnerable but also tough-minded woman who’s seen the best and the worst of her lover. She needs her man to love her like a man, but she’s also determined not to be taken advantage of. At the same time, she’s ready to comfort him. The vocals, by Canadian singer Lisa Dal Bello (who later went by Dalbello), brings a kind of Tina Turner-like, I’ve-seen-it-all worldliness to the piece, which is backed by a classic ’90s Rush rhythm and evocative crystalline single-note lines during the verses.—Rob Freedman, Rush Vault

Lisa Dal Bello says she jumped at the opportunity to sing on the album. “Alex is a complete sweetheart. I was just finishing mixing the Whore CD at a studio where as it happens Alex was recording his solo record, and not long after I was finished with my record, I got a call from him asking if I’d be interested in coming in and having a listen to one of his songs with the idea of having me sing the lead vocal and hey—I said yeah right away. It was a great day and the song is intense and personal for Alex and being given the privilege step inside of his world and allowed to be his ‘voice’ and represent his feelings by singing ‘Start Today’ was something I’ll not forget. What a rush—no pun intended.”—Lisa Dal Bello in a 2001 rockreunion.com interview.

“If you want to hear how Rush would have sounded in the 90’s with the 70’s Geddy Lee’s young voice, here you have an opportunity. Lisa Dal Bello’s singing on this song is really similar to Geddy’s on albums like Fly by Night or 2112. And it’s just spectacular! A very recommended track.”—The Crow on Prog Archives.

“‘Start Today’ is amazing! Lisa Dal Bello is on vocals and she sounds so much like 70’s Geddy with her screaming vocals, it’s eerie. Instrumentally, this sounds like 90’s Rush, so there is a nice blend of styles here. The rhythm section does an incredible job on this song.”—Mellotron Storm on Prog Archives.

Lyrics

I need you to hold me tightly in your arms
I need you to show me if I might be wrong
I am pink and you are blue
Can I trust my whole life to you?

Just don’t take me for a fool
When I need to depend on you
I am not your part-time job
What you get is what you are

You can hurt like no one can
You’re such a child for such a man
You need strength, you need to take a stand
Just stop looking to me for a helping hand

When you’re ready I will be here
I can help you lose your fear
You better stand up on your feet
If you ever want to feel my heat

Clear your mind of those things gone by
You can’t change the past, why even try
You can build upon all you’ve learned
You can start today

No one said it wouldn’t be this hard
When you share, prepare to give a lot
Just remember when you look at me
You are you and I am me

When you’re ready I will be here
I can help you lose your fear
You better stand up on your feet
If you ever want to feel my heat

Clear your mind of those things gone by
You can’t change the past, why even try
Look ahead to those better days
Make the effort, it always pays

We can build upon all we’ve learned
We can start today

Tablature

During the quiet section of the verses, Alex has two different clean guitars tracked in each channel. I’ve tabbed the one in the left, as it’s most audible, but even that is very difficult to make heads of! They two seem to be similar, however.

There’s a clean, up-strummed barred G chord at the beginning of each measure during the prechoruses which isnt tabbed here, because it wouldn’t be reproduced in a live setting with presumably only one guitarist.

The solo is incomplete and will be completed at some future time. The beginning of the solo may be wrong. I’ll check and finish it soon.